Category: Library Branches

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Did You Know Library Branches

Montgomery County Public Libraries to Add Branch Service Hours in January

MCPL will offer additional hours of branch service to the community, effective Jan. 2, 2022. 

“Our libraries are critical gathering epicenters throughout our communities where many residents rely on, not just access to books, but to the internet as well,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I appreciate the work of our employees and I thank our residents and patrons of the library for their patience as we worked to ensure that our libraries are COVID safe and accessible for both visitors and employees.”

The hours of operation at all MCPL branches, except Maggie Nightingale (Poolesville) and Noyes Library for Young Children, will be: 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Friday and Saturday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

The hours and schedule for Maggie Nightingale (currently closed for refresh) and Noyes libraries will remain as they currently stand.

“One of my highest priorities is to work towards providing equity of service to our community members,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “By equalizing and restoring hours at all of our branches, we are taking a huge step in continuing this mission.  I thank everyone who was involved in this process, as well as our customers for their patience.” 

For more information on MCPL services, please visit https://montgomerycountymd.gov/library/.

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Events & Programs Library Branches

Enter the MoComCon 2022 Art & Essay Contests!

MoComCon Returns to MCPL in January!

MoComCon happens January 15, 2022, this year at the Germantown Library! MoComCon 2022 Art & Essay contests also return as part of the celebration of all things comics, graphic novels and fandoms. The deadline to enter both contests is December 15.

What are the MoComCon Art & Essay Contests?

Do you like to draw or write? Then our Art and Essay contests are for you. You can enter art, essay, or both, just make sure to read the entry form directions and submit a separate form for each contest. Completed Art and Essay entries will be accepted electronically Monday, November 1 – Wednesday, December 15. Art contest is open to ages 5 years – adult. Essay contest is open to ages 8-14 years.

Cosplay Contest Happens at MoComCon 2022

Is Cosplay or dressing up more your style? Then our Cosplay contest is for you! Open to all ages, the day of MoComCon Saturday, January 15, 2022. Print and fill out your entry to bring with you to MoComCon 2022 at Germantown Library. Limited to the first 20 entries in each age group. Parent signature required for ages 17 & under.

English

Spanish

Learn more about MoComCon 2022, including the events schedule, at the event website. And join us at Germantown Library on January 15th!

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Events & Programs Germantown Library Branches

Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Germantown Branch to Reopen

County Executive Marc Elrich invites residents to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. to celebrate the grand reopening of the newly refreshed Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) Germantown Branch located at 19840 Century Boulevard, Germantown. 

“I am pleased that the Germantown Library will reopen its doors to the community with innovative upgrades that will improve the visitor experience for Germantown residents,” said County Executive Elrich. “Libraries are precious spaces throughout our County; these are the places where kids can first learn to read, where favorite books or authors are discovered and where the community gathers. Whether you are frequent user or have never stepped through the door, I encourage all residents to ‘check out’ the local library in your community.”

“We are so excited to reopen Germantown Library to its community members, who we know have been anxiously anticipating this day,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo.  “I hope they will be as pleased as we are about all the new refurbishments.” 

The refresh for the library includes new ergonomic sit-stand circulation and information desks; renovation of the public restrooms; new paint, carpet and other floor finishes; new furniture throughout most of the library; upgraded lighting with improved energy efficient and brighter LED lamps; drinking fountain with bottle filling station; new shelving in teen area; new interior signage and exterior building name sign; sound attenuation acoustic panels in the rotunda; new VOIP phone system; and ADA accessibility upgrades throughout. 

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Chevy Chase Events & Programs Library Branches

Montgomery County to Host Office Hours at Chevy Chase Library in October to Gather Community Input on Library Building Project

The Montgomery County Department of General Services’ Office of Planning and Development (OPD) and MCPL are exploring opportunities for the future of the Chevy Chase Library and we need input from the community!

OPD will hold two Office Hours events at Chevy Chase Library in October to present scenarios to community members and receive your feedback.

Two Scenarios

One possible scenario is full-scale renovation of the existing 16,000 square foot library. The second scenario might include a newly constructed 20,000 square foot library achieved through a public-private partnership, and a mixed-use project to include residential development to offset the costs of a replacement library on site.

Office Hours

Office hours are open, informal sessions that allow attendees to learn more about the scenarios, ask questions and give verbal and written feedback. Visit the Chevy Chase Library at 8005 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, any time during the office hours below:

· Saturday, Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

· Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Online Survey

Community members can also send feedback to OPD and MCPL through an online survey. The survey will open Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. through Monday, November 15 at noon. The survey can be found at: https://mcpl.link/chevy-chase-survey.

Information collected from the office hours, survey and comments received will be used to determine the next steps for the library.

To learn more about the Chevy Chase Library Building Project, please visit https://montgomerycountymd.gov/dgs/opd/ChevyChaseLibrary.html.

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Events & Programs Online Learning Wheaton

Graphic Novel (10+) and Cartooning (50+) Classes Produce Amazing Art!

Pens and pencils in a row, contour illustration. Isolated on white.

A drawing class is a wonderful venue to tell a story, express emotions, communicate and connect with others. Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) conducted two five-session virtual classes in May and June: “Create a Graphic Novel” (for ages 10 and up) and “Cartooning” (for ages 50 +). In partnership with MCPL, illustrator, cartoonist and animator Leila Cabib taught the classes, offering a unique opportunity for participants to demonstrate their creativity and imagination.  Both classes were funded in part by a Wheaton Cultural Project Grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. 

As they worked on their cartoons, students in “Create a Graphic Novel” learned to combine the conventions of graphic novel storytelling: narration, dialogue, character design, dynamic page layouts and cinematic techniques. They refined their rough pencil drawings into finished art with pen and ink and watercolor pencils.

View the artwork from Elisha J., Binyam, Mehak, Michelle, Stella, and Sofia in this gallery.

Participants were asked to pick a Wheaton locale for the setting of their stories. Brookside Gardens, Urban Artistry Dance Academy and Pine Lake at Wheaton Park were just a few of the settings of the cartoons created by students attending this class.

View the artwork from Sandra S., Patricia, Rosa, Peter, Peggie, James, and Nirmala in this gallery.

“Cartooning” class participants created caricatures, original characters, single- and multi-panel cartoons and experimented with pen-and-ink techniques. The Wheaton Library, the pond and the dog park at Wheaton Park were some of the scenarios participants chose to frame their artwork. Attendees at both 5-week session classes enjoyed sharing their artwork with each other during the Zoom sessions, which encouraged collaboration and fomented social interaction. MCPL and Cabib will offer “Create a Graphic Novel” (for ages 10 and up) and “Cartooning” (for ages 50 +) again virtually during fall 2021. Sign up today!

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Library Branches Maggie Nightingale

Maggie Nightingale Library to Close Aug. 2 for Refresh Project

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is announcing that the Maggie Nightingale Library, 19633 Fisher Avenue, Poolesville, will close at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2 to undergo interior improvements under the County’s award-winning Library Refurbishment initiative.

The project will include replacement of carpeting/flooring, some new shelving, a new service desk, painting, replacement of doors and installation of the Open Plus automated system. Work will also be performed to bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The library will be closed for six to eight months.

“Physical construction for the refresh project at Maggie Nightingale will begin in September; we are closing ahead of the construction start date to complete the internal reorganization of collections and shelving,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “We look forward to resuming operations at the branch in spring of 2022, and hope customers will access services at nearby branches and our 24/7 website while the facility is undergoing the refresh process.”

Please check www.montgomerycountymd.gov/libraryfor information regarding the closing, including the last date for book returns in the branch book drop and the last date for placement of holds for the Maggie Nightingale Library location.

For additional information, contact Angelisa Hawes by telephone at 240-777-0022 or email at angelisa.hawes@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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Events & Programs Library Branches

“Lemonade & LEDs” Lightbulb Exchange Comes to MCPL

A lightbulb with a lemon inside it on a bright yellow background. Green text reads LIGHTEN UP:Lemons & LEDS

Montgomery Energy Connection is excited to bring “Lemonade & LEDs” to MCPL. MEC is a network of County Government and community partners created to provide customized education on the benefits of energy efficiency, availability of programs, and opportunities for assistance. Find out how to keep more money in your pocket by reducing the amount of energy you use in your home.

Join us throughout the summer to swap out your old incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) lightbulbs for energy-efficient ones. Their motto is “lemons are sour, saving money is sweet!”

July Dates:

7/6 Little Falls Library, noon-2pm
7/8, Damascus Library, noon-2pm
7/13 Long Branch Library, 4-6pm
7/14 Quince Orchard Library, 10am-noon
7/20 Connie Morella Library, noon-2pm
7/21 Gaithersburg Library, 10am-noon
7/22 Silver Spring Library, 4-6pm
7/27 Noyes Library, noon-2pm
7/28 Olney Library, 10am-noon

August Dates:

8/3 Davis Library, noon-2pm
8/4 Aspen Hill Library, 10am-noon
8/5, Rockville Library, noon-2pm
8/10 Twinbrook Library, noon-2pm
8/11 White Oak Library, 10am-noon
8/12 Marilyn Praisner Library, noon-2pm
8/17 Kensington Park Library, noon-2pm

Visit our branches page for addresses of all MCPL locations, and the Lighten Up site for more information. There is a limit of three bulbs swapped per person.

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Aspen Hill Events & Programs Library Branches

Outdoor Storytime at Aspen Hill Starts June 21

Exterior of the Aspen Hill Library

We’re excited to announce that outdoor storytime at the Aspen Hill library begins on Monday, June 21st! We will spread out our blankets and enjoy the summer weather during this lively storytime on the grassy lawn by the Aspen Hill library.

This family storytime will feature books, songs and rhymes with Mr. Joe from the Rockville Library that promote early literacy skills. We will paint large circles on the lawn that can be reserved through our website so that families can comfortably practice social distancing. A few cicada friends will be singing with us!

To join us for outdoor storytime, please register using these links:

June 21st at 10:15

June 28th at 10:15

July 12th at 10:15

July 19 at 10:15

Registration is required. If your group plans to share one circle, please only register once for the group. One registration reserves one circle. Libraries are open from 10am-6pm on Mondays, so you can browse after storytime if you’d like.

Looking for something to do until Storytime? Take a look at these resources for kids using your library card.

Hoopla – e-audiobooks, ebooks, tv shows, and movies 

TumbleBooks – books that read themselves 

OverDrive for Kids – audiobooks and ebooks 

Kanopy Kids– videos and animated books 

BookFlix – animated stories 

Explora Educators and Explora Primary School – education resources 

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten – sign up online today, and print out your child’s reading log and your list of Early Literacy Moments 

Please place your request for English-language captioning or sign language interpretation at least five days before the library-sponsored program you plan to attend. Contact the Assistant Facilities and Accessibility Program Manager at 240-777-0002 with all other accommodation requests.

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Aspen Hill Culture Events & Programs

MCPL Pride 2021 Storytimes and Crafts!

A multicolored book in the colors of the rainbow with Pride Month in blue text

June is Pride Month, so join us for three different events for kids, plus the whole family!

Saturday, 6/12, at 3:30pm, join us for a glamorous, imaginative, and exciting storytime presented by Drag Queen Story Hour of Montgomery County! DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity in childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. If you would like to make a rainbow dancing ribbon ring to bring with you to Drag Queen Story Hour, you may pick up supplies from the Aspen Hill library.

Please call 240-773-9410 to make an appointment to pick up supplies. Drag Queen Story Hour is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County. Login plus more details at https://mcpl.events/drag-story-hour

Friday, June 18 at 3pm, Celebrate Pride Month with a rainbow craft! Learn to make rainbow hearts from paper. You’ll need to collect the following materials to create along with us: Paper in rainbow colors (or other colors to suit your project), scissors, ruler, pencil, and stapler. More details at: https://mcpl.events/pride-craft

Baby Pride Storytime is 6/22 at 9am! Enjoy Baby Storytime live with one of MCPL’s children’s librarians via Zoom! Songs, rhymes, lap bounces, and simple stories for infants up through about 18 months. Baby Storytime is designed for adult caregivers to enjoy together with https://mcpl.events/pride-storytime

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Did You Know Library Branches Wheaton

Reopening Date for Wheaton Library Moved to June 14

Orange and brick exterior of the Wheaton Maryland Library.

The Wheaton Library will now reopen to the public on June 14. The service hours for the branch will be:

  • Monday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Thursday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sunday: Closed

Wheaton Library, along with the seven additional branches reopening on June 14 and the six branches reopened to the public on June 1, will follow newly adjusted opening procedures which include no appointments, no capacity limits, and no social distance requirements. 

Holds to Go service will be discontinued prior to the reopening of the branch, but customers can pick up any remaining holds on-site on or after June 14.

Visit our website for additional information.